Chapter 79: Someone Arrives [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Shen Tang, who was listening in, quietly raised her hand like a primary school student.

Qi Shan and the other two silently watched her strange movements.

Chu Yao asked with concern, "Is Wu Lang feeling unwell?"

What dirty thing did you see?

Otherwise, why would they beckon to a deserted place?

Because in this world, raising your hand is more equivalent to "waving goodbye" than "I have something to say".

Shen Tang belatedly realized what was happening, awkwardly lowered his right hand, and said sheepishly, "I wanted to say that I know how to determine whether the tax collection team is genuine or not."

Qi Shan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

With great interest: "Young Master Shen, please speak."

Shen Tang: "This problem is simple. We need to find out some information first—how many copper coins, how many silver ingots, and how many gold ingots are in this batch of tax silver? What is their total weight? And how many carts and horses are needed to transport them? Gold, silver, and copper of the same size will vary in weight. We don't need specific numbers. Just make a rough estimate and then look at the load on the carts and the speed of the horses. Then we can tell the truth from the falsehood."

Even if the fake team is filled with sand and gravel, the weight will be a flaw.

This is indeed a relatively simple and effective method.

but--

Gong Shuwu: "We'll probably only know this after looking at the account books."

Even if Qi Shan and his companion have some connections, they wouldn't be able to access such confidential information; they'll probably have to find another way.

Chu Yao, on the contrary, found this to be quite simple.

"We don't need to look at the account books; we can simply consult the county annals from previous years to know the harvest in bumper years and the harvest in lean years, and then compare it with the situation of the previous three years. As for other tax items, we can also take a rough figure, but..."

As he spoke, Qi Shan had already begun calculating something.

A short while later, he spread out the contents of the paper for the three of them to see.

He said, "More or less correct."

Shen Tang didn't understand and didn't feel anything after watching, but Chu Yao and Gong Shuwu each had a reaction. A hint of mockery flashed in Chu Yao's eyes, while Gong Shuwu's forehead veins throbbed and he gritted his teeth.

Chu Yao raised a question: "When Zheng Qiao attacked Xin State, Sibao County was one of the first counties to be captured. Afterwards, he allowed his soldiers to plunder and loot everywhere, causing widespread suffering and the country has yet to recover. How can so much tax silver be collected?"

“You don’t understand the Prefect of Sibao County.” Qi Shan smiled disdainfully when his enemy was mentioned, and said contemptuously, “This man is competitive by nature and cannot tolerate losing. In order to please Zheng Qiao and to show off his achievements, the taxes he pays will only be more than in previous years. When I traveled to Sibao County with Young Master Shen, I heard about many unheard-of taxes along the way, all of which were added privately.”

Shen Tang looked completely bewildered.

She said, "Really?"

"have."

How could I not know?

Qi Shan rolled her eyes and said indifferently, "Who told Young Master Shen to set up a stall at the market selling plum candy cakes whenever he has free time? He can make all those girls tremble with delight with just a few words. He's so busy flirting with girls, how could he have any spare thoughts?"

Fortunately, young Master Shen is still young.

If he gets any older, good heavens, how many romantic entanglements will he attract? His romantic exploits could probably fill the entire road.

For a moment, similar scenes flashed through the minds of both Gong Shuwu and Chu Yao, and they cast indescribable glances at Shen Tang.

Chu Yao did not doubt the truthfulness of Qi Shan's words.

Goro has a sweet tongue; he praises everyone, regardless of gender, and becomes as familiar as family in just a few words.

Shen Tang: "...That sounds so sour."

What do you mean by "she's a womanizer"?

Is this a complaint that she's too popular with other women, stealing his thunder, causing all those young women and married women to ignore him?

If you're single, just work hard to find a partner. Why blame her?

Chu Yao coughed twice to steer the conversation back on track, hoping the two would remember that this was a serious "discussion on tax evasion," not idle chatter. He said, "Now that we have the plan, all that's left is to make arrangements. Where should we ambush and deploy our forces?"

Qi Shan and the other two expressed their opinions and tried their best to improve the plan, while Shen Tang occasionally filled in the gaps and made jokes.

By the time it was completely over, the sun was high in the sky.

Shen Tang asked privately, "Are you sure you don't need to find a few more reliable helpers? Since Yuan Liang has connections, he must have some who can be used."

"Does the young pear know that 'a plan should be devised by a few, not by many, for a plan devised by many will be leaked'?"

With more people involved, there's a higher risk of leaks and the profits being divided up. Compared to increasing the risk by bringing in more people to cooperate, Qi Shan would rather take the greater risk and have the four of them take all the profits. He only needs to fall into the same trap once.

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Shen Tang went about her business.

Watching Shen Tang's light-footed figure, Qi Shan sighed for some reason, teasing Su Shang who was lying in his arms with her belly exposed and her whole body stretched out, and murmured, "I hope this time it will be as I wish."

Meow~~~~

Su Shang lightly nibbled at Qi Shan's finger with the tip of his teeth. The force was very small, not painful, but even a little itchy. He smiled and removed his finger.

"You also think that Young Master Shen is a good candidate?"

With no more fun to do, Su Shang looked up at Qi Shan.

It was meowing and whimpering, as if it were accusing him.

Qi Shan had no choice but to hand over her sleeve.

"Here, you can play with it."

Su Shang found a new toy and tugged at his sleeve, trying to climb up. His diligent and hardworking back looked very familiar, making Qi Shan slightly purse his lips and straighten his lips into a smile. After a while, a soft sigh dissipated into the air.

[Preface to the Locust Tree]

He was about to go back to his room to get some dried fish.

Wenxin trembled slightly, a sense of crisis coming from behind her.

He suddenly dodged to the side.

Thump!

An arrow carrying a letter was driven deep into a wooden post.

One hour later.

When Shen Tang woke up from her afternoon nap, she found a little cat lying alone by the door. Su Shang was staring intently at its own tail, occasionally reaching out its paw to paw at it. If it couldn't catch the tail, it would continue to stare, waiting for the next opportunity to strike. If it caught the tail, it would let out a shrill meow in fright, jump up on the spot, and its fur would stand on end.

They were having a great time.

"Why are you the only one? Where's Qi Yuanliang?" Shen Tang bent down and picked up Su Shang. Qi Shan had been all lovey-dovey the other day, carrying this "new bride" he had brought in for a "lucky marriage" everywhere he went. Now he was willing to leave her here all alone? Wasn't he afraid she would run away and get lost?

Su Shang naturally couldn't understand human language.

She squirmed restlessly in Shen Tang's arms.

She had no choice but to put it back in Qishan's room; it was better for something that harmed Qishan than for it to run away or be bullied by other stray cats.

Not only was Qi Shan absent, but Chu Yao was also absent.

As for Gongshu Wu?

Shen Tang was not familiar with him.

Feeling utterly bored, she went out to set up a wine stall again.

This time, a special place was chosen.

The street corner is less than 100 meters from the county government in the center of Xiaocheng.

There definitely won't be any more accidents this time!

With a clatter, she planted the "wine" sign into the mud with one hand.

A dozen or so round wine jars were lined up on a bench. She crossed her arms over her neck, crossed her legs, wore a sun hat, and leaned back against the wooden cart of the nearest stall owner—who had accepted her money and didn't mind being leaned against like that.

No business came in for quite a while.

The stall owner chuckled, "Young lady, you're quite beautiful. If you're willing to shout out your wares, you might just get some business."

Shen Tang said, "Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will take the bait."

She sells wine at the counter, and it's only by chance that someone buys it.

The stall owner didn't understand and just smiled.

|(∧｀)

The cold is really bad; I have a runny nose and I feel listless all day. I think I might not be able to get perfect attendance.

There will be another chapter later, and the chapter I owe will probably have to wait another day.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

(End of this chapter)